INDUSTRY

ADVANTAGES

40% cheaper than Prague

Flexible hours for crew & cast

Negotiable cast buy-outs

No extra charge for weekends, public holidays and night shoots

Politically stable, safe & non-unionized region

CREWS

The region has a good standard of English-speaking crews with multiple international productions behind their belts. 1st ADs, production designers, gaffers, camera departments, stunts, SFX are of international standards.

Crews are non-union and the costs are extremely competitive. No weekend, night or holiday premiums.

CONSTRUCTION

PROPS & COSTUMES

Thousands of items of ancient, period and fantasy props and costumes are available for hire in our studio stores. More contemporary items are normally hired from the stores in the capital.

Costume design and tailoring.

PROSTHETICS & WIGS

Cuts, wounds, blood, burns, deformations or any other effects can be created

There are several wig-making stores in our studios

SFX

Pneumatic and hydraulic effects: air ramps, catapults for cars

Mechanical effects: constructions to collapse, wiring, ratchets

Floor effects: rain, snow, wind, fog etc.

Pyrotechnical effects: explosions, fire, bullet hits etc.

Model effects design and construction, animatronics

WELL, LOOK NO FURTHER. RIGA HAS A LOT OF CHARACTER, WELL-DEVELOPED INDUSTRY AND THE COSTS ARE AMONG LOWEST IN EUROPE.

SHOOTING HERE IS JUST LIKE SHOOTING IN PRAGUE. ONLY RIGA IS A BIT SMALLER AND IT IS STILL BEING DISCOVERED BY THE INTERNATIONAL PRODUCERS LOOKING FOR NEW INTERESTING AND COST-EFFECTIVE PLACES TO SHOOT.

RIGA MOTION PICTURE STUDIO

CINEVILLA STUDIO

NA STUDIO

VILNUS ARENA

REGION

FILMS

YOU NEED A LOCAL PRODUCTIONCOMPANY TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFYFOR THE REBATE AND VAT RETURN

WHAT YOU CAN GET IS A REBATE OF UP TO 20% OF ALL YOUR QUALIFYING LOCAL SPEND AS WELL AS 21% VAT RETURN. IT TAKES ABOUT A MONTH TO GET THE VAT BACK FROM THE MOMENT WE REPORT TO THE STATE REVENUE SERVICE. THE PROCEDURE IS PRETTY STRAIGHT-FORWARD.

RIGA FILM FUND

Provides a rebate of up to 20% of all qualifying local spent during a foreign film production (feature, television and documentary films).

Window for application opens 4 times a year

No creative evaluation

Once the paperwork is submitted a reply normally comes within couple of weeks.

Once rebate is confirmed you would need to cash-flow it.

Once the final financial report is submitted at the end of production for evaluation and audit is carried out you should allow up to 1 month for the money to hit the bank account.

The reporting system is easy

Can be combined with Latvian State Support Fund.

LATVIAN STATE SUPPORT FUND

A rebate of up to 20% to foreign productions shot in Latvia – feature films, animation films and documentaries.

If combined together the twofunds can provide a totalREBATE OF UP TO 30-40%

in addition to ALREADY LOW PRODUCTION COSTS

CO-PRODUCTION AND INTERNATIONAL FUNDING

Latvia is an official member of several international institutions, which allows qualifying for international co-production funding.

NATIONAL FILM FUND

NATIONAL FILM FUND is a state-financed organization giving support for Latvian and co-production films.

EURIMAGE

The Council of Europe fund EURIMAGE promotes the European film industry:

Production

Distribution

Fostering Co-operation

Media

MEDIA European Commission Audiovisual Support Program:

Film project development

Film distribution

Film promotion and festivals

STATE CULTURE CAPITAL FOUNDATION

STATE CULTURE CAPITAL FOUNDATION grants support for culture projects including film productions